Wedding Saving Tips: 5 Ways to Afford the Wedding of Your Dreams

Chances are you knew it would be expensive – it’s the biggest day of your life. Still, many brides cringe when they start applying a calculator to their dream wedding. The average cost of a wedding in the United States is $33,391, according to The Knot, and the average cost per guest is at an all-time high of $268 a person. Weddings should be memorable, but that’s money that could be used for paying off student loans, starting married life afresh, or even making a down payment on a house. The good news is, it’s possible to do both! Thanks to our wedding saving tips, brides and grooms can save on their big day without sacrificing the wedding of their dreams.

Today’s engaged couples are saving major green by using the internet, social networks and their own savvy to create elegant weddings without busting their budgets.

Save on your big day with our Top 5 Wedding Saving Tips:

1. Register as a Bulk Buyer

Online discounts abound for party and wedding supplies including candles, centerpieces, tableware and more. A great place to start is Darice, which now lets average consumers buy at prices somewhere between bulk-buy and wholesale (without a vendor’s license). You can get quality goods at low prices simply by creating an account. “A lot of brides purchase in bulk online,” said Reneille Velez, owner of Seattle wedding planning company, Cake and Lace Events. From bulk candy to mini wine bottles and personalized bridesmaid gifts, ask and the internet delivers. Go ahead, add pizazz to your ceremony with a mega delivery of giant sparklers. Larger items, such as chairs and tables, linens and tents, are also available online at bulk pricing. Alternatively, you can rent these items. To get a better price, Velez suggests working with a newer rental company eager for business.

Darice White Paper Fans used to create a gorgeous backdrop

2. Consider Artificial Blooms

Be your own florist. While fresh flowers are beautiful, they’re also pricey, perishable and a pain to manage – not to mention, if you planned on using popular blooms you can expect a higher price tag due to high demand. The good news is that you can cut costs, and save major green, by considering artificial flowers and greenery for wedding day arrangements. Not sure about going artificial? Today’s artificial blooms not only look like the real deal, but they feel like the real deal, too. From real touch flowers to pre-made arrangements, it’s easier than ever to mimic real flowers. Whether you choose to use pre-made artificial arrangements, or use individual faux flowers to DIY an arrangement, there are also plenty of tools to help you along the way. The BOW-K is just one example of an affordable way to create professional-quality floral arrangements with ease.

Make sure to also order your wedding flowers well in advance to ease your stress level. You can create your own custom arrangements or purchase pre-made designer bouquets, garlands, boutonnieres and more. If you still prefer live flowers for your own bouquet, that’s fine, too – just don’t force yourself into a tight spot by buying everything fresh.

3. Save on alcohol

Bar bills can get expensive quick, especially when you line your shelves with top-name brands . The average cost of liquor at a reception is $2,365, according to The Knot. An open bar will set you back anywhere from $15 to $90 per person (add $3 to $4 to that for premium brands) while wine can run anywhere from $5 to $20 per bottle. It helps if you can limit the cocktail hour or serve only one kind of specialty drink. Once again, you can save by buying in bulk at Costco or Sam’s Club. In addition, many liquor and wine shops will give you a discount for buying by the case, and some will buy back any unopened, unchilled bottles you return.

Customize your haul to add a personal touch. Jessica Bishop, who later started the Budget Savvy Bride blog, bought bottles of inexpensive wine at Trader Joe’s for her own wedding, soaked them in a bathtub, then removed the labels, substituting her own with custom wedding monograms and titles. If that sounds like too much work, here’s another trick: For your wedding toast, wink and serve a less expensive sparkling wine, such as Cava from Spain or Prosecco from Italy, instead of fancy French Champagne. It’s still classy and style guru Martha Stewart recommends this tip herself.

4. Use your social network

Savvy brides can use online resources to recoup some of their expenses after the ceremony. “If you buy 150 gold charger plates, that can be quite pricey, but reselling them to another bride after the wedding makes it cheaper,” Velez explains. “It’s the modern way.”

One channel is Facebook groups that specialize in buying and selling. Resale apps like letgo and OfferUp have joined Craigslist and Etsy as marketplaces where you can extend the life of wedding supplies and bring in some extra cash after the big party.

5. Find ways to DIY

Thrifty brides who plan their weddings five to ten months in advance can save money and create a signature look by making their own centerpieces, arches and other décor, Velez says. Browse Pinterest for ideas and set up your own vision board. Then purchase supplies in bulk at a craft store or online and imbue them with your own style and personalization. The handcrafted look works especially well for rustic and farmhouse weddings.

The cost of a wedding may have gone up, but today’s bride has a wealth of options for saving money. If you plan ahead, consider your skills, and use our 5 wedding saving tips, you too can host the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.

Bonus Tip: Get Inspired by Celebrity Style

Bulk buying and online discounts can save you a bundle, but if you want to achieve a sophisticated, coordinated look, it can feel a little overwhelming — after all, you’re not a professional designer. But you can get professional help, at least indirectly. Darice carries several product lines of celebrity wedding planner and television personality David Tutera. Choosing one of his styles can help you organize your purchases to achieve the look you want (without searching endlessly and constantly questioning your decisions).

“It feels like you have a celebrity wedding planner behind you, but the products are priced at a point the everyday woman can afford,” says Melissa Sperry of Darice’s product development team. If the glam and glitter of Old Hollywood is your thing, check out Tutera’s Illusion line. Or maybe you prefer Casual Elegance, with its lace and burlap, natural tones and country chic. You can also mix and match. If you want to DIY it, you can. However, prefabricated items are also available.

Ready to be inspired? Browse David Tutera’s wedding collections, and register at Darice.com to start bringing your wedding vision to life! You can also check out our 2019 Wedding Trend Guide to stay ahead of this year’s wedding must-haves.